Remote Learning Programme to expand as school remains closed

Highfields will be expanding its successful Remote Learning Programme to include far more video-based lessons and tutorials, as students and staff were told to expect school to remain shut until September.

The school has been closed to all students - other than the children of key workers - since March 20th in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Although the government has announced plans for some primary school students to return to classrooms from June 1st, no clear guidance has yet been given for the reopening of secondary schools.

Plans and preparations for Highfields to reopen are constantly being reviewed by the school’s Senior Leadership team, but Headteacher, Mr G Tate, said that comprehensive risk assessments would have to be carried out to ensure a safe environment for all students and staff before they can return.

He added: “From a secondary perspective we know that there are no plans for Years 7, 8 or 9 to return to school before September, and a rather ambiguous ambition for students in Years 10 and 12 to have some ‘face to face contact’ this half-term. 

“It is for each school to consider the best approach to reopening given their own circumstances. 

“Whilst I fully accept that Coronavirus will be with us for the foreseeable future and that there may not be a perfect time to return to school, there are a number of things that must happen before we are at the point where we can look to significantly increase the numbers of students in school. 

“We fully appreciate that parents/carers, staff and students all need to feel confident that it is safe for larger numbers of students to return to school and as such we are constantly reviewing our plans for how we can ensure everyone’s safety when we reach that point. 

“School has of course remained open for a number of students throughout this period and as such we know that it is possible to maintain a safe school environment with suitable hygiene and social distancing measures. Any increase in these numbers needs very careful consideration and comprehensive risk assessment. 

“Given the continued uncertainty we will continue our plans and preparations, but at this stage they will be made with no set date of return in mind and with consideration of a number of different potential scenarios.”

The school will now put even greater emphasis on its Remote Learning Programme, which is accessed through our HP Streams and has allowed students to continue their curriculum from home.

The programme was launched in March and has been constantly updated and improved following feedback from students and parents. It is now set to be extended further to include additional video and audio tutorials, whilst allowing students to have some virtual ‘face to face’ contact with teachers, initially for those in Year 12.

Mr Tate said: “The views of students, parents and carers have been extremely helpful in informing us at which parts of the programme are working particularly well and which can be developed further. 

“Based on that feedback, a priority for the next half-term will be to make increased use of video technologies to ensure effective communication with students and parents particularly in the form of materials with audio or visual instruction. 

“We will also move towards a situation where students can participate in live tutorials to be in direct contact with their teachers. 

“It may be the case that this is the ‘face to face contact’ that we need, particularly with Years 10 and 12, if a physical return to school is not possible this term.

“There will of course likely be teething problems whether technical, training or just familiarity and it will be useful to get these ironed out with our older students.

“Could I take this opportunity to once again thank parents/carers and students for the exceptional way they have worked together in such difficult circumstances.”

• For more information about our remote learning programme, click here

• Further individual technical support is also available by emailing digitalsupport@hswv.co.uk. 

Students and staff showcase talents for National Skills Day

Students and staff showcased their hidden talents as part of celebrations to mark National Skills Day.

Amazing artwork, sign language, sports trick shots, singing, mechanics, carpentry and fitness were among the skills showcased.

Students from all Year groups and staff from every department were invited to submit a 20-second video showcasing their skills as part of the event, which was organised in response to the coronavirus pandemic by the organisation responsible for National Careers Week.

Mr P Rose, Assistant Headteacher and Careers Leader, said: “Highfields supported National Skills Day by encouraging students and staff to record a short video highlighting their amazing talents.

“The event was organised in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as unfortunately a number of careers events have had to be cancelled this year.

“It has been a great opportunity for everyone to share their skills and stay connected to everyone at Highfields at this time.

“We had so many brilliant videos submitted. Well done all!”

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Take a look at some of our skills videos from students and staff:

Latest edition of The H released

Highfields' Young Journalists have unveiled the latest edition of the school's newspaper, The H.

Reporter, Joe Regan, said: “Despite school being closed at the moment, The H team has pulled together from home to produce the spring edition of The H magazine, which is packed with news, features and opinions from all departments.

“We all hope you will take the time to read through this special edition, which reflects the extraordinary times in which we are living, as well as celebrating the events and achievements that took place in school before the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s a springtime slice of Highfields, even in times such as these.

“With lots of events and activities still going on - albeit from home - we’ve still got our journalistic caps on ready to bring you another edition for the summer.”

Any students interested in becoming part of The H team can email vnash@hswv.co.uk or tbanks01@hswv.co.uk

To view a digital version of the latest edition of The H, click the image below:

Until we meet again: Highfields celebrates VE Day from home

The service and sacrifice of millions of people across the UK and world who stood together to secure victory in the Second World War were remembered during VE Day celebrations from home.

Students and staff baked homemade cakes and scones, created colourful bunting to hang on their homes, made posters, replicated traditional 1940s hairstyles and make up, donned costumes, and held socially distanced street parties to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

There had been exciting plans to remember the significant  anniversary of Victory in Europe - when Allied countries formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany’s armed forces - in school.

But, with the coronavirus pandemic putting the party plans on hold, History staff made a rallying call to students and their families to join nationwide efforts to celebrate the anniversary from home. 

Miss J Tappenden, Head of Humanities Learning School, filmed a special virtual assembly which was sent out to all students, as well as compiling a list of suggested activities to mark the occasion.

She said: “It was wonderful to see so many of our students and staff marking VE Day.

“VE Day is an important anniversary in any calendar year. Traditionally seen as a time of celebration, it is also one of deep reflection.

“In normal times we would have been paying tribute to the achievements of those who stood together to secure victory in the Second World War with parties and celebrations in school.

“Although we couldn’t do that this year, we commemorated their service and sacrifice from home.”

Highfields' PPE efforts make the news!

Highfields’ efforts to create PPE for local healthcare workers has been celebrated in the local media.

During the Easter holiday, students of key workers helped staff to manufacture face shields, which were distributed to care home workers, medical staff and community midwives across the West Midlands.

Among those to benefit from the face shields were Barton & Needwood House Nursing Homes and Pinfold Health Centre. The school also donated 50 pairs of safety spectacles from its Science laboratories, which have been delivered to the community midwife team in Wolverhampton.

The positive story has now been featured in the Express & Star (pictured).

Mr Tony Dean, Chemistry teacher and Deputy Headteacher, who arranged the donation, said: “We will all do whatever we can to support workers in the NHS and the care system.”

Click here to read the full article about our PPE donation

Talented Owen releases debut single from lockdown

A talented performer from Highfields who dreams of a career in the spotlight has released his debut single.

Sixth Form student, Owen La Cortar, has appeared regularly in principal roles in Highfields’ annual musical productions.

His most recent performance was as Gomez in The Addams Family, and he is hoping to move on to a Performing Arts course when the coronavirus pandemic has passed.

Owen, who is currently awaiting his A-Level results, has written, produced and recorded a number of songs from the bedroom of his home in Penn and hopes to release an EP of his work in the summer.

He has now released one of his songs, Insane, as a single, which is available on music sites including Apple Music, Spotify and TikTok.

The 18-year-old said: “As far as I can remember my goal has been to pursue a career in the performing arts, but with the current situation it felt like quarantine had somewhat put a stop to any opportunities of performing on stage.”

Eco-friendly students tackling climate change for Earth Day

Environmentally aware students have been building bug houses, composting and ditching plastic straws as part of efforts to tackle climate change in celebration of Earth Day 2020.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which was launched in 1970 as a unified worldwide response to a global environment in crisis.

Students from Years 7-10 were asked to find out their Carbon Footprint and tasked with a number of challenges to become more eco-friendly.

The project was set by Head of Geography, Ms H Lane. Challenges included building bird and bug houses, using reusable straws, planting trees, switching to energy efficient lightbulbs, making homemade cleaning products, unplugging unused devices and making a call to action to share on social media.

Ms Lane said: “We received a number of entries for the competition, with hundreds of students working out their Carbon Footprint.

“Thank you to everyone who entered; it’s brilliant to see so many students making conscious decisions to be more eco-friendly.

“Our students have really gone above and beyond in the fight against climate change.”

Six students - Jasleen Phagura, Freya Perry, Hollie Lewis, Toni Bird, Emily Hodson and Anjali Patel - have been chosen as winners and will each receive a reusable straw and biodegradable reusable cup when they return to school.

The competition comes after Highfields launched a series of initiatives to improve the environment.

Before school was forced to shut amidst the coronavirus pandemic, there had already been a shift in the school’s use of single-use plastics, with wooden cutlery made available as an alternative in the school’s eating areas.

There are also plans to launch additional initiatives, including providing stainless steel, reusable bottles for every student and introducing recycling bins on every floor.

Students to mark 75th VE Day anniversary from home

Highfields students will mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day from home with a series of celebrations including singing, baking and decoration making.

Students and staff will be demonstrating their own ‘Blitz Spirit’ by refusing to let the coronavirus pandemic dampen their mood as they mark the significant  anniversary of Victory in Europe, when Allied countries formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany’s armed forces in World War II.

Highfields History department throws an annual ‘in house’ VE Day street party during the school’s September Open Morning, complete with decorations, music and costumes.

There had been exciting plans to host a street party in school for students and staff this week to mark the special anniversary in style. But with the pandemic putting the party plans on hold, History staff are now calling on students and their families to support nationwide efforts to celebrate the anniversary from home. 

Miss K Harrison, Head of History, has challenged students in Years 7-10 to get creative with specially created VE Day lesson materials and ideas to get students thinking about the importance of the occasion.  

Miss J Tappenden, Head of Humanities Learning School, has been busy filming a special assembly from home highlighting some of the history surrounding VE Day and its significance, ahead of the official anniversary on Friday (May 8th). Click on the image below to access the virtual assembly.

Miss Tappenden said: “VE Day is an important anniversary in any calendar year. Traditionally seen as a time of celebration, it is also one of deep reflection. 

“Whilst the world breathed a sigh of relief that the atrocities of the war in Europe and the Nazi regime had come to an end, there was also much grieving to be done for the men and women of all nations who paid the ultimate sacrifice. 

“Of course, many minds turned to the thought that the war with Japan still raged on and it would be another three months before that ended.”

To encourage students to participate in this special anniversary, Miss Tappenden has compiled a list of suggested activities that range from baking and singing to homemade decorations and home tutorials for 1940s hair and makeup.  

Miss Tappenden added: “We would love to see how our students make use of these suggestions and welcome them to share any photographs of their efforts with us via our social media @HistoryHSWV on Twitter or Instagram.”

Click on the image below to access ideas for your own VE Day anniversary celebrations:

Cracking challenge celebrates society's 'good eggs'

Artistic students and staff got creative with a cracking Easter-themed lockdown challenge.

Miss J Tappenden, Head of Highfields’ Humanities Learning School, set the challenge of decorating hard boiled eggs to honour society’s ‘good eggs’ from the past and present.

Vaccination pioneer, Edward Jenner, Florence Nightingale and the nation’s PE teacher, Joe Wicks, were among those celebrated, as well as NHS workers and delivery drivers helping to keep the country moving during the coronavirus pandemic.

Miss Tappenden said: “Our students and staff got creative to celebrate ‘good eggs’ of either historical or modern value. 

“We had some fantastic entries, but the winning prize goes to Jobe Thompson, 8F, for his representation of Sun Yat-Sen, a Chinese philosopher, physician and politician who led the country’s first revolutionary organisation to promote democracy.  (Image below)

"He faced some tough competition to win the title, including a fantastic entry from Highfields Art department depicting our very own ‘good egg’, Mr Tate.”

Students of key workers enjoy Easter activities in school

Students of key workers enjoyed a range of fun activities over the Easter holidays, including cooking, cycling, computer coding, drama, art and film making.

Highfields remained open over the Easter fortnight to support children of key workers, with teaching and administration staff volunteering their time to come into school.

Staff organised a variety of fun activities for students, whilst carefully keeping to social distancing rules in school. As part of the packed programme, students enjoyed an Easter-themed cookery day, creating and dishing up tasty hot cross buns. 

On Easter Monday, students made dozens of face shields which have been donated to local healthcare workers. Click here for more information about that project.

Mr Tony Dean, Highfields’ Deputy Headteacher who arranged the programme, said: “Key workers are feeling the pressure at the moment, and it is our privilege to help those who need it by caring for their children at this difficult time. 

“All of our staff who are able have volunteered to come into school on a rota basis to support the children of key workers. 

“We really enjoyed putting on a range of activities over Easter to provide a little bit of cheer for students and staff during this difficult time.”